West Coast Chili Bowl Results - Wednesday Night

By Robert Haugh

Though West Coast entries comprised 13 of the 24 A-Main starters in Wednesday’s Chili Bowl qualifying feature, it was the Swindell show, with Tennessee’s Sammy Swindell, the five-time Chili Bowl champion cruising to the win from the pole position.

Swindell was briefly challenged by California’s Damion “The Demon” Gardner in Andy Bondio’s #47 Bondio/Barnes Chevy and Washington’s Gary Taylor in the Loyet Motorsports #05T Spike/Esslinger, but Sammy was simply dominant in taking the Wednesday’s US Fleet Tracking A-Main.

Gardner claimed second, securing himself into Saturday’s A-main, while Taylor claimed fourth after a late-race pass by “Wild Child” Jac Haudenschild who was third. “Fremont Flier” Shane Golobic (Fremont, CA) rounded out the Top five, claiming fifth aboard the AutoNet Mobile retro-Leader Card-themed Wilke-Pak #11 Stealth/Toyota.

California native Darren Hagen, the 2012 USAC-National Midget champion claimed sixth in the RFMS Racing #3 DCR/Esslinger, having narrowly edged California native Bryan Clauson at the line, who claimed seventh from thirteenth in the CTR-Curb Agajanian #39 Spike/Esslinger. Five-time USAC-CRA Sprint Car champion Mike Spencer took eighth aboard the Proflyer Enterprises #51S Spike/Proflyer with Indiana’s Brad Kuhn rounding out the Top 10 in Mason Cook’s Willit’s Towing & Recovery #10 Beast/Fontana.

Former BCRA champion Matt Streeter was having a strong run in his #14JR Spike/S&S Automotive Chevrolet before getting involved in an incident and flipping.

Former BCRA champion “T-Mez” Thomas Meseraull, Tyler Edwards (JFM entry), Jace VanderWeerd, David Prickett, Streeter and Stratton also made Wednesday’s A-main.

Arizona’s Stevie Sussex III, Taylor, Golobic, Meseraull and Hagen each recorded Heat race wins while Washington native and NASCAR star Kasey Kahne claimed a C-Main aboard the Darrah Motorsports #89 Spike/Chevy. Californian Jace VanderWeerd claimed a B-Main aboard Ron VanderWeerd’s #8v Spike/Stanton Mopar while Taylor and Hagen each recorded an A-Qualifier triumph.

After getting derailed in an incident-marred Heat 2, “Spirit of American Canyon” Travis Berryhill avoided multiple incidents to take the final transfer in C-Main 1 aboard the Manic Racing #11x Stealth/Fontana, finishing fourth after starting sixth in a race won by Kahne. Berryhill then fell short in B-Main 1, coming home 11^th after starting 16^th.

Chili Bowl rookie, 21-year-old Trey Marcham of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma learned first hand how much luck plays into the Chili Bowl. Pioloting the McQueen Racing #7 Spike/Esslinger by Duane McQueen, Marcham made one mistake in his Heat race, entering into a spin while running a strong second, getting collected by other cars, breaking a rear arm, bending a wheel and suffering a flat left front tire among other items, relegating Marcham to a disappointing eighth-place Heat finish, finishing with the flat tire. 

Marcham started nearly last in C-Main1. While moving foward the front, Marcham slowed for a spinning car ahead of him, getting plowed from behind, ripping off a shock mount, ending his evening.

Wednesday’s River Spirit Casino Qualifying Night West Coast Results

A Feature (25 Laps): 2. 47-Damion Gardner[3]; 4. 05T-Gary Taylor[2]; 5. 11-Shane Golobic[6]; 6. 3-Darren Hagen[7]; 7. 39B-Bryan Clauson[13]; 8. 51S-Mike Spencer[5]; 10. 10-Brad Kuhn[14]; 15. 57-Thomas Meseraull[16]; 17. 72-Tyler Edwards[22]; 18. 8V-Jace VanderWeerd[18]; 20. 015-David Prickett[24]; DNF 14JR-Matt Streeter[9]; DNF 2S-Danny Stratton[20]

B Feature 1 (15 Laps): 11. 11J-Travis Berryhill[16]; DNF 89-Kasey Kahne[13]; DNF 1AZ-Steve Sussex Jr[2]; DNF 3B-Jayme Barnes[3]

B Feature 2 (15 Laps): 1. 8V-Jace VanderWeerd[1]; 2. 2S-Danny Stratton[6]; 3. 72-Tyler Edwards[2]; 4. 015-David Prickett[5]; 11. 12JR-Josh Pelkey[8]; DNF 44S-Clint Schubert[16]

A-Feature Qualifier #1 (10 Laps): 1. 05T-Gary Taylor[4]; 3. 14JR-Matt Streeter[7]; 5. 8V-Jace VanderWeerd[9]; 6. 72-Tyler Edwards[3]; 8. 12JR-Josh Pelkey[8]; 9. 1AZ-Steve Sussex Jr[6]

A-Feature Qualifier #2 (10 Laps): 1. 3-Darren Hagen[2]; 2. 11-Shane Golobic[4]; 5. 39B-Bryan Clauson[6]; 7. 015-David Prickett[3]

A-Feature Qualifier #3 (10 Laps): 2. 47-Damion Gardner[5]; 3. 51S-Mike Spencer[6]

A-Feature Qualifier #4 (10 Laps): 2. 10-Brad Kuhn[1]; 4. 57-Thomas Meseraull[3]; 5. 3B-Jayme Barnes[2]; 8. 2S-Danny Stratton[4]

C Feature 1 (12 Laps): 1. 89-Kasey Kahne[2]; 4. 11J-Travis Berryhill[6]; DNF 7T-Trey Marcham[12]

C Feature 2 (12 Laps): 4. 44S-Clint Schubert[8]; DNS 9F-Jared Carpenter

Heat 1 (8 Laps): 3. 12JR-Josh Pelkey[3]; DNS 9F-Jared Carpenter

Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 1AZ-Steve Sussex Jr[6]; DNF 11J-Travis Berryhill[7]

Heat 3 (8 Laps): 1. 05T-Gary Taylor[2]; 2. 51S-Mike Spencer[5]; 6. 89-Kasey Kahne[6]

Heat 4 (8 Laps): 2. 2S-Danny Stratton[4]; 3. 015-David Prickett[6]; 4. 3B-Jayme Barnes[7]; 8. 7T-Trey Marcham[3]

Heat 5 (8 Laps): 1. 11-Shane Golobic[2]; 2. 10-Brad Kuhn[1]; 7. 44S-Clint Schubert[4];

Heat 6 (8 Laps): 1. 57-Thomas Meseraull[1]; 2. 1-Sammy Swindell[5]

Heat 7 (8 Laps): 3. 47-Damion Gardner[7]; 4. 8V-Jace VanderWeerd[4];

Heat 8 (8 Laps): 1. 3-Darren Hagen[1]; 2. 72-Tyler Edwards[4]; 3. 39B-Bryan Clauson[8]; 4. 14JR-Matt Streeter[6]

Visit www.chilibowl.com for full results and entries.

Chili Bowl Thursday West Coast entries

1ST            J.J. Yeley                        Charlotte, NC                        McKinnie Motorsports Hacked/Toyota

2B            Tyler Reddick                        Corning, CA                        2B Racing Beast/Gaerte

3F            Tanner Swanson            Kingsburg, CA                        Ted Finkenbinder Bullet/Chevrolet

05K            Bud Kaeding                        Campbell, CA                        Loyet Motorsports Spike/Esslinger

5            Cole Whitt                        Alpine, CA                        Wilke-Pak Stealth/Toyota

6C            Michael Heberling            Centennial, CO                        Heberling Stealth/Hybrid GM

7D            Michelle Decker            Guthrie, OK                        McQueen Racing Spike/Esslinger by McQueen

7N            D.J. Netto                        Hanford, CA                        Frank Netto Stealth/Chevrolet

11R            Troy Rutherford            Ojai, CA                        Calvin Martens TCR/Esslinger

12F            Nic Faas                        Huntington Beach, CA            ABC Motorsports Spike/Esslinger

19S            Richard VanderWeerd            Visalia, CA                        Mike Sala Spike/Sala Chevrolet

26X            John Golobic                        Mountain View, CA            Douglas Bock Spike/Esslinger

27C            Kip Hughes                        Enid, OK                        Cliff Blackwell Stealth/Gaerte

47X            Tim McCreadie                                                     Andy Bondio Bondio/Barnes

56P              Jason Leffler                          Long Beach, CA            56 Inc. Beast/Esslinger 3-Wide Life

51X            Matt Lundy                          Phoenix, AZ                        Bobby Martin Ellis/Proflyer

62            Dennis Howell                         Rancho Palos Verdes, CA            Stealth/Salsa Chevrolet

63            Jerry Coons Jr.                        Tucson, AZ                        Dooling Machine Spike/Esslinger

67            Rico Abreu                        Rutherford, CA                        Keith Kunz Bullet/Speedway Toyota

67X            Brad Sweet                        Grass Valley, CA            Gary Zarounian Stealth/Toyota

73X            Greg Edenholm                        Malibu, CA               JFM Inc. Ellis/Esslinger King Racing Products

115            Conner Kassik                        Lake Havasu, AZ            Neverlift Motorsports Spike/Chevrolet 

Over 80 West Coasters Compete at the 26th Annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Midget Nationals

Editor's Note: I would like to send my thoughts and prayers to the family and friends of Donnie Ray Crawford. Donnie Ray, you will forever be missed, and will always be a Hero and an angel watching over the erst of your racing family. God Speed Donnie Ray!

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By Robert Haugh

With nearly 260 total competitors, including the best Midget racers from throughout the U.S. and beyond, with a myriad of racing stars from an array of series including three-time and reigning NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Tony Stewart and reigning NASCAR Nationwide series champion Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., it’s not surprising over 80 drivers and teams from the West Coast made the cross-country trek, all gunning at capturing the coveted Golden Driller trophy awarded on Saturday, January 14^th in Tulsa, Oklahoma at the 26^th Annual Chili Bowl Midget Nationals.

An array of West Coast Midget champions, feature winners, veterans, young guns and car owners, including champions and winners representing USAC-Western States, BCRA, WMRA, RMMRA, NWWT and NOMA Midgets, all competing over five nights of racing.

Though representing less than one-third of the total entries, West Coasters compiled 11 of the 24 total A-Main starters, including seven of the Top 10 positions. Despite the large West Coast representation, no one was able to fend off Tennessee’s father-and-son duo Kevin and Sammy Swindell. Kevin, the reigning two-time champion, became the first back-to-back-to-back winner in the history of the race, which is often dubbed the Super Bowl of Midget racing. Kevin’s father Sammy, a five-time Chili Bowl winner came home second.

Of the West Coast entries, Kyle Larson (Elk Grove, CA) garnered a podium finish, coming home third in Keith Kunz Motorsports #67 Bullet/Speedway Toyota, with Danny Stratton (Riverside, CA) aboard Steve and Diana Hampton’s #77S Twister/Esslinger taking fourth, West Coast transplant Bryan Clauson (currently residing in Noblesville, IN) in the CTR-Curb #39C NOS Energy Drink-Curb Records Spike/Esslinger claiming fifth, Grass Valley, CA native Brad Sweet taking sixth in the Kasey Kahne Racing #49X Sage Fruit-Great Clips Spike/Speedway Toyota, with two-time Chili Bowl winner (2002, 2004) and 2011 USAC-Western States Midget and VRA Midget champion Cory Kruseman of Ventura, CA taking seventh aboard the Kruseman Motorsports #21k Lucas Oil Spike/Esslinger. Multiple-time open wheel champion Jerry Coons, Jr. (Tuscon, AZ) was the hard charger, moving from 23^rd to 8^th after transferring from a B-Main in Danny Lendich’s #3NZ Wendy’s Spike/Esslinger.

Darren Hagen (Riverside, CA) claimed 12^th in the #3 RFMS Racing Spike/Esslinger after transferring from B-Main 2. Multiple-time Silver Crown and Sprint Car champion Bud Kaeding (Campbell, CA) finished 19^th after bringing out a caution after spinning on Lap 14 in the Buster & Ziggy Ent. #2 Bullet/Esslinger. Casey Shuman (Rattlesnake Bend, AZ) claimed 17^th in Hans Lein’s #2H Lein Acres-Midstate Equipment-Blue River Ag Spike/Esslinger.

2011 USAC West Coast 360 Sprint Car champion Richard VanderWeerd (Visalia, CA) claimed the 2012 Chili Bowl Rookie-of-the-Year award in Mike Sala’s #19W Spike/Sala Chevy after placing 20^th in the A-Main after transferring by winning B-Main 1.

Rico Abreu (Rutherford, CA), who transferred by winning B-Main 2 finished 21^st in the Keith Kunz Motorsports #67K Bullet/Toyota.

Other West Coast racers having made it to the twin B-Mains included Brian Camarillo (Camarillo, CA) in the Bill Camarillo #22 Spike/Fontana, Josh Ford (Oxnard, CA) in Keith Ford’s #73 Spike/Bob Wirth, New Zealand’s Shaun Insley in Andy Bondio’s #47 Bondio/Barnes Chevy and Ronnie Gardner (Corona, CA) in the #71S Keith Ford Spike/Esslinger.

West Coast racers winning races in the alphabet soup at the QuikTrip Center’s 1/5-mile Tulsa Expo Raceway were: Mike Spencer (Temecula, CA), J-Main 2; Michelle Decker (Guthrie, OK in McQueen Racign entry) G-Main 2; Brad Mosen (Auckland, New Zealand, Andy Bondio entry) D-Main 1; Richard VanderWeerd, B-Main 1 and Rico Abreu, B-Main 2.

West Coast racers impressing fans by running the alphabet soup included 2009 USAC-Western States Midget champion Alex Schutte (Rohnert Park, CA) who began his alphabet soup run in H-Main 2 and transferred to the back of G-Main 2, F-Main 2 and E-Main 2 before his run came to an end in Calvin Martens’ #28 Woodworks Unlimited-Ryno Mfg.-Jim’s Towing-Aircraft Electrical Components-Ontario West TCR/Mopar.

Chili Bowl rookie Jake Swanson, of Anaheim, CA, who’s Chili Bowl appearance was nearly halted just a month before the event, rallied from a disappointing Friday qualifying night and crash that saw him suffer a concussion to an alphabet soup run that saw him start in the K-Main and advance first to J-Main 1 then to I-Main 1 where he came one spot shy of transferring to H-Main 1 in the Swanson Motorsports #05H Goodwine Glass-Lucas Oil-Crowe Performance-PHB Indy-Orange County Tank Testing Stealth/Honda.

The 50-lap A-Main was extended to 55 laps as a tribute to popular Broken Arrow, Oklahoma racer Donnie Ray Crawford who lost his life early Saturday morning in a tragic accident away from the track. The capacity crowd of 17,000+ was in a pall Saturday, mourning the loss of the extremely popular and talented racer. As many know, Donnie Ray Crawford was the hero who rescued Harli White from her burning race car several years ago. Harli was driving one three McQueen Racing #7 Spike/Esslinger entries. In honor of Crawford, Harli ran Crawford’s nameplate on the McQueen Racing #7W on Saturday evening. 

Local news story on the tragic event: http://www.fox23.com/news/local/story/Crawford-family-and-friends-react-to-local-racers/TE2sqj6TAkqwggvJF_NfxQ.cspx

West Coast Results from the 26th Annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals:

A Main: 3. Lyle Larson, Elk Grove, CA; 4. Danny Stratton, Riverside, CA; 5. Bryan Clauson, Noblesville, IN (CA transplant); 6. Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, CA; 7. Cory Kruseman, Ventura, CA; 8. Jerry Coons, Jr., Phoenix, AZ; 12. Darren Hagen, Riverside, CA; 17. Casey Shuman, Rattlesnake Bend, AZ; 19. Bud Kaeding, Campbell, CA; 20. Richard VanderWeerd, Visalia, CA; 21. Rico Abreu, Rutherford, CA

B Main 1: 1. VanderWeerd; 5. Kaeding; 6. Coons Jr.; 10. Chad Boat, Phoenix, AZ; 12. Josh Ford, Oxnard, CA; 16. Brian Camarillo, Camarillo, CA

B Main 2: 1. Abreu; 2. Shuman, Rattlesnake Bend, AZ; 4. Hagen; 8. Gary Taylor, Snohomish, WA; 9. Levi Roberts, Broomfield, CO; 15. Shaun Insley (Andy Bondo entry) Royal Oak, NZ; 16. R.J. Johnson, Phoenix, AZ; 17. Ronnie Gardner, Corona, CA

C Main 1: 3. Chad Boat; 7. #35 Justin Grant, Ione, CA; 10. #1J JJ Yeley, Phoenix, AZ; 11. #98K P.J. Jones, Torrance, CA; 14. #8V Jace VanderWeerd, Visalia, CA; 15. #88H Johnathon Henry, Stockton, CA; 18. #47 Brad Mosen, Auckland, NZ; 19. #05R Ryan Pace, Brownsburg

C Main 2: 2. R.J. Johnson; 3. Gary Taylor; 4. Levi Roberts; 8. Jason Leffler, Long Beach, CA: 10. Damion Gardner, Concord, CA; 15. Ryan Bernal, Hollister, CA; 17. Shane Golobic, Fremont, CA; 19. Markus Niemela, Rauma, Finland

D Main 1: 1. #47 Brad Mosen, Auckland, NZ; 2. #98K P.J. Jones, Torrance, CA; 3. #88H Johnathon Henry, Stockton, CA; 6. #1J J.J. Yeley, Phoenix, AZ; 16. #14JR Matt Streeter, Galt, CA

D Main 2: 2. #72 Ryan Bernal, Hollister, CA; 4. #26 Shane Golobic, Fremont, CA; 8. #2T Thomas Meseraull, San Jose, CA; 10. #15P David Prickett, Fresno, CA; 16. #86E Chris Ennis, San Diego, CA

E Main 1: 11. #191 Chase Barber, Brownsburg, IN

E Main 2: 5. #2B Tyler Reddick, Coming, CA; 8. #7 Shannon McQueen, Tehachapi, CA; 9. #51 Brent Camarillo, Camarillo, CA; 16. #28 Alex Schutte, Rohnert Park, CA

F Main 1: 4. #191 Chase Barber, Brownsburg, IN; 15. #11B Travis Berryhill, American Canyon, CA

F Main 2: 2. #2B Tyler Reddick, Corning, CA; 4. #28 Alex Schutte, Rohnert Park, CA; 5. #51X Matt Lundy, Phoenix, AZ; 10. #58 Cole Peard, Quincy, CA; 11. #00 Pete Davis, Pleasanton, CA; 13. #18 Floyd Alvis, San Carlos, CA; 14. #49JR Bobby Michnowicz, Lomita, CA; 15. #7D Michelle Decker, Guthrie, OK

G Main 1: 7. #15N T.J. Smith, Fresno, CA; 8. #17K Tanner Berryhill, Bixby, OK; 9. #7W Harli White, Lindsay, OK; 10. #2X Tyler Millwood, Kingston, CA; 13. #12JR Josh Pelkey, Peoria, AZ; 14. #77B Mike Boesel, Bennett, CO

G Main 2: 1. #7D Michelle Decker, Guthrie, OK; 2. #28 Alex Schutte, Rohnert Park, CA; 3. #49JR Bobby Michnowicz, Lomita, CA; 8. #0G Greg Bragg, Visalia, CA; 11. #27C Kip Hughes, Enid, Ok; 14. #8B Bob Ream Jr., Glendale, AZ

H Main 1: 2. #2X Tyler Millwood, Kingston, CA; 3. #15N T.J. Smith, Fresno, CA; 4. #17K Tanner Berryhill, Bixby, OK; 5. #82W Robbie Whitchurch, Chico, CA; 6. #21V Jimmy Voitel, Covina, CA; 11. #17W Cole Wood, Auburn, CA; 12. #9D Sean Dodenhoff, Bakersfield, CA;

H Main 2: 3. #28 Alex Schutte, Rohnert Park, CA; 9. #73F Greg Edenholm, Malibu, CA; 14. #44S Clint Schubert, Calhan, CO

I Main 1: 4. #17K Tanner Berryhill, Bixby, OK; 5. #05H Jake Swanson, Anaheim, CA; 12. #2AZ Rick Shuman, Gilbert, AZ; DNS - #15K Connor Kassik, Lake Havasu, AZ

I Main 2: 4. #73F Greg Edenholm, Malibu, CA; 6. #9H Matt Hummel, San Jose, CA; 7. #9B Harris Brooks, Houston, TX;, IL; 9. #51S Mike Spencer, Temecula, CA

J Main 1: 2. #17K Tanner Berryhill, Bixby, OK; 4. #05H Jake Swanson, Anaheim, CA; 9. #55 Kyle Smith, Moorpark, CA; 11. #8 Mike Lapp, Goodyear, AZ; 12. #27 Kody Swanson, Kingsburg, CA; DNS #21JR Kevin Michnowicz, Lomita, CA

J Main 2: 1. #51S Mike Spencer, Temecula, CA; 5. #2G Terry Goodwin, Laveen, AZ; 6. #88W Dustin Weland, Parker, CO; 7. #77D Dalten Gabbard, Peoria, AZ; 9. #67X Britton Bock, Angwin, CA; 13. #35W Rick Wright, Ponca City, OK

K Main: 5. #05H Jake Swanson, Anaheim, CA; 10. #71P Tim Pyle, Gresham, OR; 12. #83X Bob Lawlor, San Carlos, CA; DNS -- #21AZ Mike Visser, Cottonwood, AZ; #11XC Steve Newman, Steamboat Springs, CO; #6Y Vinny Villeggiante, Gresham, OR

Chili Bowl West Coast Friday Preliminary Night Results

By Robert Haugh

Leading the Friday evening West Coast Chili Bowl qualifiers was 10-time A-Main starter and two-time Chili Bowl winner Cory Kruseman (Ventura, CA) coming home with the victory aboard the Kruseman Motorsports  #21K Lucas Oil Spike/Esslinger. Kruseman joins Elk Grove’s Kyle Larson as West Coasters having won their prelim A-Mains – the other two wins are shared by the Swindell’s.

Two-time A-main starter Bryan Clauson (CA native, residing in Noblesville, IN) came home third in the CTR-BCI-Curb #39C NOS Energy Drink-Curb Records-Keizer Wheels Spike/Esslinger, while three-time A-main starter Bud Kaeding (Campbell, CA) finished ninth in the Buster & Ziggy Ent. #2 Bullet/Esslinger, Ronnie Gardner (Corona, CA) cracked the Top 10 after transferring from B-Main action aboard Keith Ford’s #71S Everhart Construction-Esslinger-Reedy Electronics-JFM Spike/Esslinger, Levi Roberts (Broomfield, CO) finished 13^th in the Steve Lewis-Nine Racing #9 Majestic Metals-Performance Racing-K&N-Earle's-Eibach Spike/Esslinger, the “Flyin’ Finn” Markus Niemela (Rauma, LS [Finland])   17^th in Californian Steve Watts’ #81 Polly Gallimore-Lost Reality-Rock Star-SWE-Maxwell Industries Stealth/Sala Chevy and one-time A-Main starter Brad Mosen of New Zealand in Californian Andy Bondio’s #47 Barnes Oil Pumps-Advanced Suspension-Kenny's Components-Brown & Miller Bondio/Barnes came home 19^th.

2011 BCRA Midgets Dirt champion Shannon McQueen (Bakersfield, CA) was involved in multiple-car tangles in Heat 7, relegating her to C-Main 1, in which she placed third, transferring her to B-Main 1, where she missed transferring by two spots in sixth aboard her #7 Murf Dogg Racing-R.C. 4 Less-American Waste Control-Simpson Race Products-K&N Filters Spike/Esslinger.

USAC/CRA hardcharger and multiple-time Midget victor Gregg Bragg (Visalia, CA) in Dave LaMott’s #0G Hot Head Headers-Special Things Sheet Metal-Power Up Concrete Stealth/Esslinger and 2009 USAC-Western States Midget champion Alex Schutte (Rohnert Park, CA) in Calvin Martens’ #28 Woodworks Unlimited-Ryno Mfg-Jim's Towing-Aircraft Electrical Components-Ontario West TCR/Mopar both were running in transfer positions in B-Main 2, Schutte even stretching to a sizeable lead, however, both experienced mechanical gremlins, Bragg’s being a faulty electrical wire.

Additional Friday West Coast entries included Steve Stasa (West Hills, CA) in his #22S Eurick Law Center-Stasa Motorsports-SBR Motorsports TCR/Chevy V4, Mike Boesel (Bennett, CO) in his #77B Boesel Enterprises Inc.-Jordan Carstar Auto Body-Lost Creek Farms-High Plains Diner-Strasburg NAPA Stealth/Esslinger, Jake Swanson (Anaheim, CA) in the Swanson Motorsports #05H Goodwine Glass-Lucas Oil-Crower Performance-PHB Indy-Orange County Tank Testing Stealth/Honda,  Vinny Villeggiante (Gresham, OR) in his #6Y Pyle Family-Sam Villeggiante-Villeggiante Concrete Spike/Gaerte, Cole Wood (Auburn, CA) in Matt Wood’s #17W Elk Grove Ford-Spike Chassis-Keizer Wheels-Quick Lane Spike/Esslinger and Mike Visser (Cottonwood, AZ) in Dave Burkhart’s #21AZ Kaiser Alexco Aluminum-Black Hills Auto Electric-Ultimate Imports-Beadle Bug Patrol, Die Cast Cars Now Eagle/Gaerte.

Complete West Coast results from Friday’s Chili Bowl qualifying night:

Heat 1: 7. #22S Steve Stasa, West Hills, CA

Heat 2: 2. #21K Cory Kruseman, Ventura, CA; 5. #28 Alex Schutte, Rohnert Park, CA

Heat 3: 3. #81 Markus Niemela, Rauma, Finland; 5. #71S Ronnie Gardner, Corona, CA

Heat 4: 5. #17W Cole Wood, Auburn, CA; 7. #05H Jake Swanson, Anaheim, CA

Heat 5: 2. #2 Bud Kaeding, Campbell, CA; 6. #191 Chase Barber, Brownsburg, IN (via CA)

Heat 6: 3. #0G Greg Bragg, Visalia, CA, 5. #47 Brad Mosen, Auckland, NZ (Bondio) 7. #21AZ Mike Visser, Cottonwood, AZ

Heat 7: 1. #9 Levi Roberts, Broomfield, CO, 6. #7 Shannon McQueen, Bakersfield, CA; 7. #77B Mike Boesel, Bennett, CO

Heat 8: 2. #39C Bryan Clauson, Noblesville, IN; DNS - #6Y Vinny Villeggiante, Gresham, OR

C Main 1: 2. Barber, 3. McQueen 4. Boesel,  DNS - Visser

C Main 2: 6. Stasa, DNS - Jake Swanson, Villeggiante

A Qualifier 1: 5. Niemela, 7. Schutte, 8. Mosen

A Qualifier 2: 1. Kaeding 2. Kruseman, 8. Ronnie Gardner

A Qualifier 3: 4. Roberts, 8. Wood, Auburn

A Qualifier 4: 1. Clauson, 5. Bragg

B Main 1: 2. Mosen, 4. Ronnie Gardner,  6. McQueen, 8. Barber, 13. Boesel

B Main 2: 13. Bragg, 14. Schutte, 15. Wood

“A” Main: 1. Kruseman, 3. Clauson, 9. Kaeding, 10. Ronnie Gardner,  13. Roberts, 17. Niemela,  19. Mosen

For full results and additional information on the 26^th Annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Midget Nationals, visit www.chilibowl.com for the entire entry list.

West Coast Chili Bowl Friday Qualifiers

By Robert Haugh

Leading the Friday evening West Coast Chili Bowl qualifiers are 10-time A-Main starter and two-time Chili Bowl winner Cory Kruseman (Ventura, CA) aboard the Kruseman Motorsports  #21K Lucas Oil Spike/Esslinger, three-time A-main starter Bud Kaeding (Campbell, CA) in the Buster & Ziggy Ent. #2 Bullet/Esslinger, two-time A-main starter Bryan Clauson (CA native, residing in Noblesville, IN)  in the CTR-BCI-Curb #39C NOS Energy Drink-Curb Records-Keizer Wheels Spike/Esslinger, and one-time A-Main starter Brad Mosen of New Zealand in Californian Andy Bondio’s #47 Barnes Oil Pumps-Advanced Suspension-Kenny's Components-Brown & Miller Bondio/Barnes.

Past champions competing on Friday evening include 2011 BCRA Midgets Dirt champion Shannon McQueen (Bakersfield, CA) aboard her #7 Murf Dogg Racing-R.C. 4 Less-American Waste Control-Simpson Race Products-K&N Filters Spike/Esslinger.

Additional West Coast entries include USAC/CRA hardcharger and multiple-time Midget victor Gregg Bragg (Visalia, CA) in Dave LaMott’s #0G Hot Head Headers-Special Things Sheet Metal-Power Up Concrete Stealth/Esslinger, Levi Roberts (Broomfield, CO) in the Steve Lewis-Nine Racing #9 Majestic Metals-Performance Racing-K&N-Earle's-Eibach Spike/Esslinger, Ronnie Gardner (Corona, CA) aboard Keith Ford’s #71S Everhart Construction-Esslinger-Reedy Electronics-JFM Spike/Esslinger, Steve Stasa (West Hills, CA) in his own #22S Eurick Law Center-Stasa Motorsports-SBR Motorsports TCR/Chevy V4 and Mike Boesel (Bennett, CO) in his own #77B Boesel Enterprises Inc.-Jordan Carstar Auto Body-Lost Creek Farms-High Plains Diner-Strasburg NAPA Stealth/Esslinger.

Mike Sala has his #19W Stealth/Wirth Chevy entered with no driver announced as of yet.

Of the West Coast Friday qualifiers, only Clauson and Kruseman made the A-Main in 2011.

Friday evening West Coast rookie entries include Jake Swanson (Anaheim, CA) in the Swanson Motorsports #05H Goodwine Glass-Lucas Oil-Crower Performance-PHB Indy-Orange County Tank Testing Stealth/Honda, 2009 USAC-Western States Midget champion Alex Schutte (Rohnert Park, CA) in Calvin Martens’ #28 Woodworks Unlimited-Ryno Mfg-Jim's Towing-Aircraft Electrical Components-Ontario West TCR/Mopar, the “Flyin’ Finn” Markus Niemela (Rauma, LS [Finland]) in Californian Steve Watts’ #81 Polly Gallimore-Lost Reality-Rock Star-SWE-Maxwell Industries Stealth/Sala Chevy, Vinny Villeggiante (Gresham, OR) in his own #6Y Pyle Family-Sam Villeggiante-Villeggiante Concrete Spike/Gaerte, Cole Wood (Auburn, CA) in Matt Wood’s #17W Elk Grove Ford-Spike Chassis-Keizer Wheels-Quick Lane Spike/Esslinger, Mike Visser (Cottonwood, AZ) in Dave Burkhart’s #21AZ Kaiser Alexco Aluminum-Black Hills Auto Electric-Ultimate Imports-Beadle Bug Patrol, Die Cast Cars Now Eagle/Gaerte and Kyle Edwards (Fountain Valley, CA) in Gordon Edwards’ #39K Engineering Safehouse Security-MPD Racing-Fulkerson Fabricating Ellis/Van Dyne.

Visit www.chilibowl.com for the entire entry list.

West Coast Thursday Night Chili Bowl Qualifying Night Results

By Robert Haugh

Leading the heap of West Coast entries in Thursday’s Chili Bowl qualifying action was Brad Sweet (Grass Valley, CA) aboard the Kasey Kahne Racing #49X Sage Fruit-Great Clips Spike/Speedway Engines Toyota, who claimed third in the A-Main, locking himself into Saturday’s 50-lap Chili Bowl A-Main finale.

2011 USAC West Coast 360 Sprint Car champion Richard VanderWeerd (Visalia, CA) turned heads, moving up from ninth to claim fourth in Mike Sala’s #19S VanderWeerd Construction-Battery Worx-Weldway Construction Spike/Sala Chevy.

Rico Abreu (Rutherford, CA), one of California’s young guns charged from 14^th to claim seventh aboard Keith Kunz Motorsports’ #67K Abreu Vineyards-Stadelhofer Construction-TRD-Toyota-Kwik Change Bullet/Speedway Toyota.

Brian Camarillo (Camarillo, CA) gave the West Coast another Top 10, claiming tenth in Bill Camarillo’s #22 Agromin-Unicor-Roy’s Towing-Waste Management-Open Range Spike/Fontana while Chad Boat (Phoenix, AZ) claimed 11^th aboard Robbie & Gaye Allen’s #12B ABC Body Shop-NAPA Martin Seniour-Billy Boat Exhaust-Electromotive Spike/Esslinger.

Several West Coast entries were involved in a late race incident, including Damion “The Demon” Gardner (Concord, CA) in 16th aboard Loyet Motorsports’ #05G Vacuworx International-Loyet Landscape Maintenance Inc.-Meramec Heights Collision Center-Butler Built Professional Seat Systems-Beaver Stripes & Graphics Spike/Esslinger, P.J. Jones (Torrance, CA) in 18th aboard the Kruseman Motorsports #98K American Racing Wheels-Araid by PG-BMRS Spike/Esslinger, Shane Golobic (Fremont, CA) in 19^th aboard Doug Bock’s #26 Get Som Sports-Bicycles Inc. (Ft. Worth, TX)-Country Builders-Piners Welding Supply & Driveline Service Spike/Esslinger, rookie contender Ryan Bernal (Hollister, CA) in 21st aboard Tom Ford’s #72 King Racing Products-A&A Precision Machine-Berry Pack-JFM-Pacific Coast Maint. JFM/Bob Wirth and J.J. Yeley (Phoenix, AZ) in 22^nd aboard Triple Crown Racing’s #1J Ohsweken Speedway-Rockwell Security-Hoosier Twister/Toyota. Both Golobic and Garnder claimed Heat races, with Golobic also winning in A-Qualifier 1. Bernal picked up the victory in A-Qualifier 3.

Travis Berryhill (American Canyon, CA) battled handling issues in B-Main 2, dropping from a transfer spot after spinning, coming home ninth in the Manic Racing #11 Vallejo Coin Exchange-Redline Oil-Racing 2 Cure-Fairfield Inn & Suites-Advance Racing Stealth/Fontana. Pete Davis (Pleasanton, CA) was running one spot shy of a transfer when he was penalized to the back near the end of B-Main 1, where he placed ninth in his #00 Hot Head Header-Hot Products Engineering Design Co. Stealth/Esslinger.

2011 USAC-Western States Midgets Rookie-of-the-Year Connor Kassik (Lake Havasu, AZ) has a night he’d likely rather not remember aboard the Neverlift Motorsports #15K Crysalli-Manitowoc-Fruitful Juice-Prickett's Dist. TCR/Chevy. In Heat 2, Kassik was running up front when he was collected in an incident that cut a tire, causing him to DNF and be scored in 8^th. Starting in the rear of C-Main 2, Kassik was involved in two separate early incidents while moving up through the field. After racing itno to the Top 5, Kassik drove in hard, hitting the wall and flipping violently. After reviewing the damage, Kassik and the Neverlift Motorsports team decided that car was not repairable, ending Kassik’s 2011 Chili Bowl prematurely.

Other West Coast entries competing on Thursday night included Tim Pyle (Gresham, OR) in the Warren Pyle-Tim Pyle #71P Pacific Power Products-Perkins Pacific Spike/Brayton Chevrolet, Terry Goodwin (Laveen, AZ) in Misty Goodwin’s #2G American Building Science Services-Combs Construction Spike/Fontana, Oklahoma’s Michelle Decker in the Shannon McQueen Racing (Bakersfield, CA) #7D Waurika Truck & Tire-Carter Custom Finishes-Starrship Trucking-Simpson Race Products-Quantum Consulting Spike/Esslinger, Oklahoma’s Tanner Berryhill in the Kruseman Motorsports #17K Lucas Oil-Americash Advance-Schoenfeld Spike/Esslinger, Oklahoma’s Kip Hughes aboard Mountain View, CA car owner Cliff Blackwell’s #27C blackwellmotorsports.com-Pat McVicker Oilfield Services-Cowboy Pumping Unit Sales & Repair-MAC Tools-Danny Stratton-Nick's Pumping Inc. Stealth/Gaerte Chevrolet, Rick Shuman in Dave Burkhart’s #2AZ Kaiser Alexco Aluminum-Ultimate Imports-Beadle Bug Patrol-Die Cast Cars Now Cobra/Fontana and RMMRA Midget rookie-of-the-year Clint Schubert (Calhan, CO) in the George Schubert #44S Schubert's Sod-Dale's Paint-Cooper Head Road-Carquest Spike/Fontana.

Thursday’s Suburban Chevrolet Qualifier Results from the 26th Annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals:
Heat 1: 3. #44S Clint Schubert, Calhan, CO


Heat 2: 1. #26 Shane Golobic, Fremont, CA; 2. #1J J.J. Yeley, Phoenix, AZ; 3. #98K P.J. Jones, Torrance, CA; 4. #19S Richard VanderWeerd, Visalia, CA; 7. #2AZ Rick Shuman, Gilbert, AZ; 8. #15K Conner Kassik, Lake Havasu, AZ


Heat 3: 2. #22 Brian Camarillo, Camarillo, CA; 5. #11B Travis Berryhill, American Canyon, CA; 6. #27C Kip Hughes, Enid, OK


Heat 4: 1. #05G Damion Gardner, Concord, CA; 4. #7D Michelle Decker, Guthrie, OK; 7. #2G Terry Goodwin, Laveen, AZ


Heat 6: 2. #49X Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, CA; 7. #71P Tim Pyle, Gresham, OR


Heat 7: 3. #12B Chad Boat, Phoenix, AZ; 5. #00 Pete Davis, Pleasanton, CA


Heat 8: 2. #72 Ryan Bernal, Hollister, CA; 3. #67K Rico Abreu, Rutherford, CA; 7. #17K Tanner Berryhill


C Main 1: 7. Shuman; 10. Goodwin


C Main 2: 6. Kassik,  9. Tanner Berryhill, Bixby, DNS -- Pyle


A Qualifier 1: 1. Golobic, 3. J.J. Yeley,  6. Gardner, 7. Davis, 10. Schubert


A Qualifier 2: 2. Abreu, 4. P.J. Jones, 5. Camarillo


A Qualifier 3: 1. Bernal, 2. Richard VanderWeerd, 10. Hughes


A Qualifier 4: 2. Sweet, 4. Boat, 6. Travis Berryhill, 7. Decker


B Main 1: 9. Davis


B Main 2: 9. Travis Berryhill, 11. Decker, 13. Hughes, 16. Schubert


 “A” Main: 3. Sweet, 4. R. VanderWeerd, 7. Abreu, 10. Camarillo, 11 Boat, 16. Gardner, 18. P.J. Jones, 19. Golobic, 21. Bernal, 22. Yeley

For more information on the 26^th Annual Chili Bowl Midget Nationals, visit www.chilibowl.com.

West Coast Tuesday Chili Bowl Qualifiers

By Robert Haugh

Heading the list of Tuesday night qualifiers in the Chili Bowl Midget Nationals are multiple past Chili Bowl A-main event starters, including 13-time A-Main qualifier Jerry Coons, Jr. (Tuscon, AZ) in Danny Lendich's #3NZ Lucas Oil-Impact-Wendy's-Hoosier Tire Spike/Esslinger, 2004 BCRA Midget champion and three-time (2009-2011) A-main qualifier Thomas “T-Mez” Meseraull (San Jose, CA) in Mark Bush’s #2T EF-65 Hand Cleaner-markbushassociates.com Spike/Esslinger, three-time A-main qualifier Casey Shuman (Rattlesnake Bend, AZ) aboard Hans Lein’s #2H Lein Acres-Midstate Equipment-Blue River Ag Spike/Esslinger, Darren Hagen (Riverside, CA) in RFMS Racing’s #3 RFMS-Liberty Village-McGaladrey & Pullen Spike/Esslinger, 2010 King of the West Sprint Car champion and 2010 A-main qualifier Kyle Larson (Elk Grove, CA) in the Keith Kunz Motorsports’ #67 Advanced Racing-Kwik Change-IWX-Hoosier Bullet/TRD-Toyota and 2009 A-main qualifier Bobby Michonowicz (Lomita, CA) aboard Ron Bach’s #49JR Ron Bach Construction-T-Shirts by Timeless-Fabozzi Metal Works-Doug’s Auto Body-Drake Spike/Esslinger.

Of Tuesday’s West Coast entrants, only Coons, Jr. Meseraull made the A-Main in 2011.

Past champions competing in Tuesday’s qualifier include 2007 BCRA champion Justin Grant (Ione, CA) chauffeuring Larry Gardner’s #35 CB Fabrication-Ancient Element Massage Therapy-Ultra-Shield Seats-Hinchman Race Suits Stealth/Frampton Gaerte, 7-time BCRA champion “Ageless Wonder” Floyd Alvis (San Carlos, CA) manning his Champion Automotive #18 Stealth/Wesmar and multiple-time open wheel champion Jerry Coons, Jr. (Tuscon, AZ) in Danny Lendich’s #3NZ Lucal Oil-Impact-Wendy’s-Hoosier Tire Spike/Esslinger.

20111 race winners competing on Tuesday include Jonathan Henry (Stockton, CA) aboard Graunstadt Enterprises’ #88H Ellis/Fontana, Kody Swanson (Kingburg, CA) aboard Mountain View, CA car owner Cliff Blackwell’s #27 Stealth/Yates Ford,

Additional West Coast Tuesday entrants include Britton Bock (Angwin, CA) in his #67X McNamara Electric-Mike Bock Driveline Service of Santa Rosa-Pete’s Tractor Service Spike/Esslinger, Dalton Gabbard  (Peoria, AZ) aboard the Arizona Heat Trucking #77D BG Products-Grand Canyon Harley-Carquest-J&J Gabbard Ellis/Proflyer Ford, T.J. Smith (Fresno, CA) aboard the Neverlift Motorsports #15N Crysalli-Manitowoc-Fruitful Juice-Prickett’s Dist.-David Prickett Spike/Van Dyne Chevy, Sean Dodenhoff (Bakersfield, CA) aboard his #9D Bakersfield Sports Injury & Wellness-Steve Holloway Painting-Torco Oil-Arnold Johansen Spike/Fontana, Greg Edenholm (Malibu, CA) aboard Keith Ford’s #73F King racing Products-A&A Precision machine-Berry Pack-JFM-Pacific Coast Main. Spike/Bob Wirth, Bob Ream, Jr. (Glendale, AZ) in the 2B Racing #8B Gordon Beeding-Imagine Injection-Parker House Stores of Phoenix-Beal’s Auto Body F5/Fontana, Steve Newman (Steamboat Springs, CO) in the MHL #11XC F&M Machine-Whale’s Tail-Sideline Sports Bar BRE/D3 Ford, R.J. Johnson (Phoenix, AZ) aboard Bobby Martin’s #51J Weiler Farms-Fontana Engines-Pecon Builders-G.T. Trucking-BG Chemicals Spike/Fontana, Harris Brooks (Houston, TX) in Dodenhoff’s #9B EMC/Fontana and Brian Deegan (Omaha, NE) aboard the Kruseman Motorsports #38k Lucas Oil Spike/Esslinger.                    

Tuesday’s lone West Coast Chili Bowl rookie entry is Kyle Smith (Moorpark, CA) aboard his own #55 Agromin-Open Range Petroleum-Waste Management-Roy’s Towing-Unicor Spike/Chevy.

Visit www.chilibowl.com for more information on the 26^th Annual Chili Bowl Midget Nationals.